Walter b



(No Model.) v

W. B. MANNY.

ELASTIC HEEL FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

Patented Apr. 28, 1891.

mzzzessvss, [hernia-1 'IHi Noam Perm; cm, mow-mum, WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT O EICE.

IVALTER B. MANNY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOEL SIVOPE, OF SAME PLACE.

ELASTIC HEEL FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,200, dated April 28, 1891.

Application filed November 6, 1890. Serial No. 370,494. (No model.) I

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER B. MANNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Elastic Heel for Boots or Shoes, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to construct an elastic heel for shoes which shall be simple in construction and will secure ease and comfort and obviate unpleasant concussion in walking.

The invention consists of a heel for boots, shoes, and the like provided with an elastic layer or plate, preferably of rubber, interposed between the layers of leather, all of the aforesaid layers being fastened together and to the shoe by nails in a simple manner, thereby avoiding the construction of special devices for this purpose.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a heel with an elastic layer of rubber, and do not wish herein to be understood as claimih'g the same broadly, no matter how arranged and applied. In these previouslyconstructed elastic heels either the rubber layer has been placed on the outside of the heel to form the bottom layer, which does not give a good and durable walking-surface, or where the rubber has been interposed between the layers of the heel specially-constructed devices and a more or less complicated or unsightly arrangement has been adopted to allow the spring action to take place and yet hold the heel and parts thereof together and to the shoe. My invention dispenses with this complication and all these specially-constructed devices and attains the same result in a much simpler and better manner, the heel at the sametime looking like an ordinary one.

The invention will best be understood'by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective of a heel and part of a shoe provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the same.

are driven.

The same figures of reference indicate the same parts in the two views.

5 is a part of a boot or shoe, and 6 the heel thereof, between the layers of which is interposed a layer 7 of any elastic substance, preferably rubber, of the proper degree of elasticity, which comes flush with the perimeter of the heel and is preferably finished to correspond with the finish of the heel. The adjoining layers of the heel may be suitably cemented or fastened to the layer of rubber.

In order to securely hold the heel to the shoe and the different layers thereof together, I may provide the same along the straight edge thereof with ordinary shoe-makers nails 8 (or other fastening devices) of any suitable number, which may be driven through the heel and sole of the shoe. This construction permits a spring action over the entire heel, except at the straight portion, where the nails 8 pass through the same, the greatest spring being secured at the back part of the heel where desired. In walking the rear of the heel strikes the ground first, and this is where the elastic action and cushioning is desired. I have found that no spring is required at the straight portion of the heel Where the nails 8 It will be noted that the nails 8 being driven through the layers of the heel and clinched on the inside of the shoe compress the rubber at the straight portion, making the heel-slightly higher at the rear and lower in front. The absence of spring at the front of the heel is therefore not noticeable. Even if the foot be put down flat, the rear of the heel will strike the ground first and cushion before the front part comes against the ground. This also insures greater spring action at the rear of the heel, where desired.

By the above-desired expedient not only is cushioning of the heel secured in walking, but running down of the heel is to a great extent prevented, and in this way my invention also subserves an important incidental function.

In order to further guard against the running down of the heel, I may provide the layer or layers of leather exterior to the layer of rubber with a series of nails 9, (or other suitable contrivance,) which pass through the layer or layers of leather exterior to the rubber layer, but not through the same. These nails do not in any Way interfere With the spring action of the heel, and they also give the shoe the usual finish, making it in all respects to the observer look like the ordinary shoe.

The arrangement and construction of the device is such that it adds but a triflingamount to the cost of a shoe and can be made and applied by any ordinary shoe-maker, only the commonest and most ordinary expedients being used to secure the desired result, and that attained in the simplest manner and in a practical way, which gives to the shoe the desired spring action in as complete a manner as more complicated arrangements.

Having fully set forth my invention, what I desire to claim, and secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A heel for boots, shoes, and the like having an elastic plate interposed between its layers, and a fastening device or devices rigidly securing the same to the shoe and the various layers together at the front part of the heel only.

2. A heel for boots, shoes, and the like having an elastic plate interposed between its layers, and nails passing through the heel near its straight portion only, rigidly securing the same to the shoe and the various layers together.

3. A heel for boots, shoes, and the like having an elastic plate interposed between its layers and cemented to the adjoining layers thereof, and nails passing through the heel near its straight portion only, rigidly securing the same to the shoe and the various layers thereof together.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this 1st day of November, 1890,111 the presence of the two subscribing Witnesses.

XVALTER I MANNY. [n s] 'Wituesses:

JOEL Sworn, M. S. RUDER. 

